New Canaan Domestic Violence Partnership talks to commuters

Volunteers from the New Canaan Domestic Violence Partnership welcomed commuters at the New Canaan Train Station last week to raise awareness during Domestic Violence Awareness month.

Volunteers from the New Canaan Domestic Violence Partnership welcomed commuters at the New Canaan Train Station last week to raise awareness during Domestic Violence Awareness month.

Photo: Contributed Photo

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Volunteers from the New Canaan Domestic Violence Partnership welcomed commuters at the New Canaan Train Station last week to raise awareness during Domestic Violence Awareness month.

Volunteers from the New Canaan Domestic Violence Partnership welcomed commuters at the New Canaan Train Station last week to raise awareness during Domestic Violence Awareness month.

Photo: Contributed Photo

New Canaan Domestic Violence Partnership talks to commuters

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Commuters were recently welcomed at the New Canaan train station platform by volunteers from the New Canaan Domestic Violence Partnership. This is yet another organized event by the partnership this month to spread awareness of Domestic Violence resources available to families.

The volunteers were supporting the efforts of the partnership during October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Riders received pens with messages like "Break the silence, make the call," and took purple "love is respect" bracelets and pamphlets about domestic violence and the workplace to New York City with them. Many riders were surprised by the free coffee available to all commuters on any trains between 6 and 8 a.m., courtesy of a supporter of the NCDVP.

"Many riders took a few seconds from their rush to their seats to say hello or grab a bracelet. Many even stopped by the table to say thank you for the coffee," said Tony Phillips, co-chairman of the New Canaan Domestic Violence Partnership. "I think the riders had a great response to us this year, and it always helps to have students join us. Many of our commuting dads recognize our volunteers and stop to chat. Some even stopped to chat about how domestic violence has affected their personal lives."

Phillips said with a rate between one in three and one in four women being affected by domestic violence, "it's hard to know anyone who does not know someone who has been affected by domestic abuse."

Several youth and adult volunteers joined this year from the Youth Adult Partnership Board, Grace Community Youth ministry, Kids in Crisis and New Canaan High School. Several police officers from the NCPD joined to remind people about the seriousness of domestic violence. One officer thanked the volunteers for their efforts as he recounted a domestic abuse-related arrest made only hours prior in New Canaan, reminding all that domestic violence is all too real in town.

The partnership also shared that in the last 12 months there were 83 domestic violence-related 911 emergency calls to New Canaan Police. When police arrived, there were 50 children present. The partnership wants everyone to know there is help and that "Love is not Abuse. Love is respect."